Award-winning 'Doubt' opens at Barn Theatre

The Barn Theatre production of “Doubt,” the award-winning drama about a priest suspected of inappropriately touching a young boy, stars Greg Allen, left to right, Carla Kendall, Katherine Mallon, and Leslie Silverman.(Photo: COURTESY OF TOM SCHOPPER)

This award-winning drama centers on a nun who suspects priest of molesting a young boy.

Of course, he did it.

In “Doubt,” a parish priest named Fr. Flynn is suspected of molesting an eighth-grade boy who attends the church school. Flynn’s main accuser is Sister Aloysius, the school’s principal and a rigid disciplinarian.

“Doubt” is one of the most lauded plays of the past 15 years, earning playwright John Patrick Shanley a Pulitzer and a Tony. It was faithfully adapted into a film with Meryl Streep as Sr. Aloysius and the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Father Flynn.

But as acclaimed as the film was, Hoffman’s portrayal of Flynn certainly seemed to leave little doubt about his guilt. Furthermore, real-life revelations about the abusive behavior of some Catholic priests have made headlines, particularly in the past year.

Consequently, a number of audience members for “Doubt” already assume that the priest inappropriately touched the young boy, Donald Muller. Of course, he did it.

Greg Allen of Hawthorne has heard from such prospective playgoers. Allen is playing Flynn in the production of “Doubt” that runs from Friday, Jan. 11, through Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Barn Theatre in Montville.

“A lot of people have already made up their minds,” Allen said. “I’ve had people ask me, ‘Are you really playing that creepy priest?’ ”

However, Allen hopes that audiences who come to the Barn will be more open-minded and more willing to entertain their own doubts.

“There’s a line in the play: ‘Even if you have certainty, that’s an emotion, not a fact,’ ” he said.

That sentiment is echoed by Rob Nissen of New Providence, who is directing “Doubt.” He stated that the uncertainty is one reason why he was drawn to the story.

“We’ve also seen the dangers of accusing people without proof,” he said. “The challenge is to be true to the story and have people draw their own conclusions.”

Sister Aloysius (Carla Kendall) suspects that Father Flynn (Greg Allen) has been molesting an eighth-grade boy in “Doubt.”(Photo: COURTESY OF TOM SCHOPPER)

That task is made easy by Shanley’s script, according to Nissen.

“This is a brilliantly written play. That’s what attracts me most to Shanley’s work. I like a play that gives actors a chance to dig into the characters.”

Nissen added that a word-oriented script like “Doubt” can be daunting.

“There’s a lot of dialogue. It’s the kind of play I love, but it can also be difficult to stage,” he said. “This isn’t a farce, with slamming doors or chases or gunshots.”

In addition to Allen, the cast at the Barn consists of Carla Kendall of Wayne as St. Aloysius, Kathleen Mallon of Kinnelon as Sr. James (a younger nun who teaches at the school) and Leslie Silverman of Milford as Mrs. Muller, Donald’s mother.

Kendall agreed “Doubt” is a play that speaks to the moment.

“We’re finding out that what’s happening in the Church now has been hidden for so many years,” she said. “When I was growing up, there was never any question about a priest or a nun being right. We’re now seeing that some clergy took advantage of that trust.”

In addition, Kendall pointed out that “Doubt” addresses other topics.

The story is set during a time when the reforms of the Second Vatican Council (such as changing the liturgy from Latin to English) were causing major changes in the Catholic Church.

“Sister Aloysius grew up in the church before (the Second Vatican Council),” Kendall said. “That was her life, and she liked it. She doesn’t handle change well.”

Another issue in “Doubt” is the fact that Donald Muller is the first African-American student in the school. The theme of race further heightens a complex situation.

Nissen hopes the audiences for “Doubt” will appreciate that complexity.

“I want people to walk out and have intense discussions about who is right and who is wrong,” he said. “It’s easy to say the priest is guilty, but what is the case for the other side?”